Directional signal apparatus

ABSTRACT

A switch which is mounted on the steering column of a vehicle and may be actuated to indicate either right or left turn information, right or left lane changing information or emergency information. The switch is transferred to the lane-change or turn mode by an actuator member which moves ball contact assemblies into various contact relations thereby making electrical contact to the various lights of the vehicle. The system also includes a circuit interconnecting the various lamps on the vehicle through a flasher, the energization of the lights being controlled by the turn signal switch. In one case a standard and emergency flasher are utilized and in the other case two standard flashers are utilized and a system is provided to short one of the lamps by means of the flasher thereby giving a sequential affect to the energization of the inboard and outboard lamps.

United States Patent 191 Dyksterhouse lMal'Ch 13, 1973 DIRECTIONALSIGNAL APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Robert M. Dyksterhouse, Blue-Dot Farms,Route 3, Charlevoix, Mich.

[22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1970 [2]] Appl. N0.: 63,838

UNITED STATES PATENTS Elliott et al. ..340/8l R Wood.;.... ..340/82Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant ExaminerMichael SlobaskyAttorney-Harness, Dickey & Pierce [57] ABSTRACT A switch which ismounted on the steering column of a vehicle and may be actuated toindicate either right or left turn information, right or left lanechanging information or emergency information. The switch is transferredto the lane-change or turn mode by an actuator member which moves ballcontact assemblies into various contact relations thereby makingelectrical contact to the various lights of the vehicle. The system alsoincludes a circuit interconnecting the various lamps on the vehiclethrough a flasher, the energization of the lights being controlled bythe turn signal switch. In one case a standard and emergency flasher areutilized and in ;he other case two standard flashers are utilized andsystem is provided to short one of the lamps by means of the flasherthereby giving a sequential affect to the energization of the inboardand outboard lamps.

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INVENTOR. w; kiw /m DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL APPARATUS The purpose of theforegoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the publicgenerally, and especially the scientists, engineers or practitioners inthe art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms of phraseology,to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence ofthe technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neitherintended to define the invention of the application, which is measuredby claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of theinvention in any way.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generallyto a directional indicating switch and circuit and more particularly toa ball contact type of turn indicating switch and an improved flasherand sequential circuit for interconnecting the lamps of the vehicle withthe source of power.

Conventional turn signal switches of the type presently being utilizedon vehicles, while performing the necessary switching functions, areprone to a number of defects. For example, the conventional armaturetype of switch is subject to broken switch blades and dirty contactsthereby rendering the device inoperative. Furthermore, certainmechanisms within the switch may jam the steering mechanism undercertain fault conditions of the switch. Also, prior conventional type ofturn signal switches have been designed to be utilized in conjunctionwith specific automobile models while universality of turn signalswitches for all vehicles is desired.

With the system of the present invention, many of these defects havebeen alleviated and a simple, compact, integral structure has beenprovided which includes all of the necessary functions for signaling theintentions of a vehicle operator. For example, the switch of the presentinvention includes the right and left turn signal functions, a lanechanging function and an emergency four-way flash function.

Further, in conventional turn signaling systems, certain automotivemanufacturers have incorporated a sequential energization of i aplurality of indicating lamps on the right rear and left rear of thevehicle, depending on the direction of the turn intended. However, thesesystems have involved the use of complicated electronic timingcircuits,thus increasing the manufacturing costs, installation and maintenancetime and cost.

With the system of the present invention, an extremely simple and highlyreliable sequencer circuit has been provided which minimizes theaforementioned problems.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide animproved directional turn signal indicator switch.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedball contact type of directional indicator switch.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide animproved directional turn signal indicating switch which is compact,highly integrated and easily attached to the steering mechanism of thevehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedball-type turn signal switch which includes all of the functions of lanechanging, turn and emergency four-way flash indication in a single unit.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide animproved ball type turn indicating switch having improved electricalcircuit contacting characteristics.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedturn signal indicating switch which is simple to manufacture, easy toinstall and highly reliable.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide animproved control circuit for a turn signal indicating system utilizingthe ball type turn signal indicating switch described above.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved sequential system for indicating a turn of a vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedsequencer system utilizing a minimum number of elements.

It is still a further object of the: present invention to provide animproved turn signal control system which is reliable in operation andutilizes a minimum number of wires to provide the control function forthe various lamps of the vehicle. 7

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, the appendedclaims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodimerit of the switchmechanism incorporating certain features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the actuator of FIG. 1 illustrating certainfeatures of the return mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a plan view partially broken away of the actuator mechanismillustrating the relative positions of the contact balls during selectedmodes of operation;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the emergency, four-way flashactuating mechanism in the neutral position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 4 illustrating thefourwav flash mechanism in the fourway flash mode of ope ration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the four-way flash actuator handle asviewed from the bottom thereof;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the interconnection of theswitch assembly of FIGS. 1 through 6 into circuit with the flashers andlamps of the vehicle;

FIG. 8 is a modified form of the switch assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a modification of the system of FIG. 7utilizing :normal or standard flashers and is adapted to be utilizedwith the switch of FIG. 8. This circuit also illustrates a preferredform of sequencer.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6 thereof, theimproved turn signal indicator and emergency flasher device of thepresent invention includes a housing 10 which is adapted to be mountedcoaxially with the steering shaft 1.2 of an automobile. The base 10 hasa cylindrical recess 14 at one side thereof which receives a generallycylindrical drum 16 of an actuator 18 to pivotally mount the actuator 18relative to the housing 10. The drum l6'may be formed integrally withthe actuator 18 or otherwisc'suitably secured thereto for movementtherewith. The actuator I8 is provided with a handle 20 for manuallymoving the actuator 18 to operate turn signal device. The actuator 18 isurged toward and yieldably held in a central or neutral position by apair of balls 22 mounted in said base 10, the balls 22 being urged intoangularly spaced V-shaped notches 24 formed in the cylindrical surfaceof the drum 16 by springs 26 supported in apertures 27 formed in thebase 10.

The base has a central opening 28 in which the steering shaft 12 mayrotate and, at the opposite side of the central opening 28 from theactuator drum recess 14, the base 10 carries an emergency flashercontrol member 30 and the hereinafter described contact elements whichprovide the desired switching actions in response to manual operation ofthe turn signal actuator 18 and the emergency flasher control member 30.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the base 10 hasan elongated arcuate slot 32 extending equal distances on opposite sidesof a centerline 34 through the center of the opening 28 and through thecenter of the actuator drum recess 14. It will be noted that the slot 32describes an arc of a circle having a center approximately at the centerof drum 16. The contacts for indicating a right turn are mounted in thebase 10 to the left of this centerline 34 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3 andinclude a first strip contact 36 mounted in the base 10 with itsopposite ends 38 and 40 received in cooperating recesses 42 and 44.Intermediate its ends 38 and 40, the contact 36 extends along the innerside of the arcuate slot 32 and includes a detent portion 46 in the formof an angular bend extending toward the opposite side of the slot 32.The end portion 38 of the contact 36 is connected to a terminal post 48in a suitable manner as by a friction fit or soldering, and theintermediate portion, including portion 46, is spaced from the innerside of the arcuate slot 32 to permit limited resilient movement of thestrip 36.

A second strip contact 50 extends along the outer side of the slot 32and includes a detent portion 52 extending toward the detent portion 46of the contact 36. The outer end 54 of the contact 50 is received in acooperating recess 56 and inwardly of the detent 52 the contact strip 50extends through a slot 58 and terminates in an inner end loop 60 whichis disposed adjacent the centerline 34 and projects into the slot 32.Also, the loop 60 is connected to terminal post 62 in a manner similarto strip 36.

The right turn contact group also includes a third strip contact 64which extends along the bottom of the slot 32 between contacts 36 and50- and the detents 46 and 52 thereof. The contact 64 has an end portion66 extending transversely of the slot 32 in a slot 68 and connected to aterminal post 70. The right turn contact group also includes a contactball 72 movable along the slot 32 by the actuator 18, as hereinafterdescribed, to simultaneously engage the contact strips 36, 50 and 64when the lever has been moved to the right turn or lane-change mode ofoperation.

At the right hand side of the centerline 34, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3is a left turn contact group consisting of strip contacts 74, 76 and 78and a ball contact 80, which group is a mirror image of the right turngroup including contacts 36, 50 and 64, and a ball contact 80. Thecontact 74 has a detent 82 connected to a terminal post 84, and thecontact 76 has a detent 86 and an end loop 88, adjacent the centerline34, connected to a terminal post 90.

The positions of the contact balls 72 and are determined by the actuator18 which has a pair of spaced bosses 92 and 94 projecting into the slot32 and are movable therealong during pivotal movement of the actuator 18relative to the base 10. The bosses 92 and 94 have ball pockets 96 and98 which receive the ball contacts 72 and 80, respectively, for slidingthe balls 72, 80 within slot 32 during left and right movement ofactuator 18. In the central or neutral position of the actuator 18, theball contacts 72 and 80 are in the neutral positions shown in full linesin FIG. 3.

As the actuator 18 is pivoted by the handle 20 in a clockwise directionrelative to the base 10 as viewed in FIG. 3, the ball 72 is rolled alongthe contact 64 into engagement with and between the contacts 36 and 50into what may be called a lane changing position indicated at 100, inwhich it may be held by pressure on the handle 20, for a temporaryindication of turning to the right as may be desired when moving to alane to the right. If the handle 20 is released when the actuator 18 isin this lane changing position, it will return to its center or neutralposition returning the ball contact 72 to its neutral position out ofengagement with the contacts 36 and 50.

If, however, the driver continues to move the handle 20 to further movethe actuator 18 counterclockwise relative to the base 10, the ballcontact 72 will be moved past the detents 46 and 52 which upon releaseof the handle 20 will yieldably hold the actuator 18 against return toits neutral position. This normal or standard right turn position ofball contact 72 is indicated at 102 and, in this position (as in thelane change position the ball contact 72 simultaneously engages thestrip contacts 36, 50 and 64. It will be appreciated that during theabove described movement of the ball contact 72, the ball contact 80moves in the same direction, toward the adjacent end of the slot 32 andremains out of engagement with the contacts 74 and 76. From this normalright turn position the turn indication is cancelled in a conventionalway by a cam 104 carried on the steering shaft 12 engaging a spring loop106 on the actuator 18 to move the actuator 18 counterclockwise relativeto the base 10. Thus, the ball contact 72 moves over the detents 46 and52 and permits the actuator centering springs 26 to return the actuator18 to its neutral position. It will be noted that the degree of arcuatemovement of the drum 16 of actuator 18 relative to the balls 22 isconsiderably less than the arcuate movement of the ball 72 due to thecloseness of the balls 22 to the pivot point on drum 16. Thus, the

, balls 22 do not completely leave the notches 24 to provide the returnforce.

In the preferred embodiment a brake contact strip 108 is mounted in thebase 10 in a recess 110 provided on the centerline 34 at the inner sideof the slot 32 and is connected to a terminal post 112. A brake contactball 114 is mounted in the slot 32 on the centerline 34 engaging thebrake contact strip 108 and between and in engagement with the loops 60and 88 of the contacts 50 and 76. The actuator bosses 92 and 94 areprovided with spaced oppositely facing abutrnents 116 and 118. Uponsignalling a normal right turn, the abutment 116 is adapted to engagethe brake ball contact 114 before the ball contact 72 is moved past thedetents 46 and 52 to move the ball contact 114 out of engagement withthe loop 60. Upon signalling a normal left turn, the abutment 118similarly moves the ball contact out of engagement with the loop 88. Inthis way, the brake signal will be present on the left side during aright turn but the right turn signal will take precedence or over ridethe brake signal. The opposite condition exists during a left turn.

The emergency flasher control member 30 is mounted in the base formovement along the centerline 34 in a recess 120 defined by the base 10and the base plate 122. The base plate 122 is recessed and apertured at124 to receive a generally U-shaped emergency strip contact 126, thecentral portion of which is bifurcated to provide an inner strip portion128 disposed adjacent the loops 60 and 88 of the contacts 50 and 76 andan outer strip portion 130, the strip portions 128, 130 forming acentral opening 132. These portions 128 and 130 extend through theapertured base plate 122 and into recess 120 in which the emergencyflasher control member 30 operates. One end of the emergency stripcontact 126 is connected to a terminal post 133.

The base 10 also carries a pair of inner strip contacts 134 and 136projecting into the recess 120 at opposite sides thereof and connectedto terminal posts 138 and 140, respectively, and a pair of outer stripcontacts 142 and 144 also projecting into the recess 120 at oppositesides thereof and connected to terminal posts 146 and 148, respectively.The emergency flasher control member 30 has a pair of spaced apertures150 and 152 in which are mounted two ball contacts 154 and 156 whichproject above the upper surface 158 of an inner blade portion 160 of themember 30 for engagement with the portions 128 and 130 of the contactstrip 126. The blade portion 160 has a downwardly extending centralflange or ridge 162 for engaging and positioning the ball contacts 154and 156.

The emergency flasher control member 30 is movable between an offposition in which the inner ball contact 154 extends into the opening132 in the contact strip and the ball contact 156 engages the contactstrips 142 and 144, and an on position in which the ball contact 154simultaneously engages the portion 128 of emergency strip contact 126and loops 60 and 88 of contacts 50 and 76. The inner end of the bladeportion 160 of the emergency flasher control member projects through therecess 110 above the brake contact 108 and is guided by the opposed sidewalls thereof. Inward movement of the member 30 is limited by engagementof a shoulder 164 thereon with a cooperating stop 166 on the base plate122. The inner end of the member 30 has cam surfaces 168 and 170 adaptedto be engaged by the steering shaft cam 104 for returning the member 30to its off position upon rotation of the steering shaft when theemergency flasher control member 30 is in its on position.

The electrical circuit diagram for the preferred embodiment abovedescribed is illustrated in FIG. 7. The directional signal switchapparatus described above is represented by the portion of the diagramwithin the broken line rectangle 200. This device operates as a turnsignal indicator througha standard flasher 202 connected to the vehiclebattery by a conductor 204 and connected by conductor 206 to theterminal post 146 of contact 142.

The terminal post 148 of contact 144 is connected by conductor 207 to aconductor 208 which connects terminal post of contact 64 to terminalpost 79 of contact 78. Terminal post 48 of contact 36 is connected to aline 210 for supplying current to the right turn signal indicating lamps212, 220 from flasher 202, ball 156 and conductor strip 64. Terminalpost 84 of contact 74 is connected to a conductor 214 for supplyingcurrent to the left turn signal lamps 216, 224 from flasher 202, ball156, and conductor strip 78.

Terminal post 62 of contact 50 is connected to a conductor 218 forsupplying current to the right rear turn signal lamp 220 and terminalpost of contact 76 has connected thereto a line 222 for supplyingcurrent to the left rear turn signal indicating lamp 224 in the case ofa brake signal. The brake strip contact terminal post 112 is connectedto a source of battery voltage through a conductor 226, a brake switch228 and a conductor 230. Thus, when the brake switch is closed byapplica tion of the brakes, current flows to the right and left rearlamps through switch 228, ball 114 and conductors 218 and 222,respectively. If a turn or lane change is indicated, the appropriaterear lamps are deprived of a brake indication because of the movement ofball 1 14.

It will now be appreciated that when the handle 20 is moved to move theball contact 72 into engagement with the contacts 36 and 50, whether inthe lane changing position or in the normal turn position 102, a rightturn is signalled by the completion of the circuits from the battery tothe front and! rear lamps 212 and 220. These circuits include a commonportion from the battery through line 204, the standard flasher 202, theline 206, the contact 142, the ball contact 156, the contact 144, thelines 207 and 208, and the contact 64 to the ball contact 72. From theball contact 72 the circuit to the front lamp 212 is through the contact36 and the line 210 and the circuit to the rear lamp 220 is through thecontact 50 and the line 218.

When the ball contact 72 is in its normal right turn position 102 thebrake ball contact 1 14 is in its position shown in broken lines in FIG.3 and if the brake switch 228 is closed the left rear lamp 224 is lit(continuously) by the completion of a circuit through line 230, brakeswitch 228, line 226, contact 10 8, ball contact 114, contact 76, andline 222 to left rear lamp 224. Since ball contact 114 is now out ofcontact with contact 50, the right rear lamp- 220 continues to flash,unaffected by the closing of the brake switch 228.

When the emergency flasher control member 30 is moved to its on positionit will be seen that the circuit is broken from the standard flasher 202because the ball contact 156 has moved out of engagement with thecontacts 142 and 144. However, circuits are completed through anemergency or heavy duty flasher 230 to all of the lamps 212, 216, 220and 224. Tracing this circuit, energy flows from the emergency flasher230 to the front lamps 212 and 216 through a conductor 232, theemergency strip contact 126, portion thereof, ball contact 156 fromwhich the circuit to lamp 212 is through contact 134, conductor 234 andconductor 210 and the circuit to lamp 216 is through contact 136,conductor 236, and conductor 214. Energy also flows from the emergencyflasher 230 the circuits to the rear lamps 220 and 224, through line232, emergency contact 126 and portion 128 thereof to ball contact 154from which the circuit to lamp 220 is through contact 50 and line 218and the circuit to lamp 224 is through contact 76 and line 222.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the improved turn signalindicator and emergency flasher device of the present invention issimple in construction, economical to manufacture, and reliable andefficient in operation. In the preferred embodiment illustrating thedevice, the part within the broken rectangle on the circuit diagram,FIG. 7, has seven wires connected to it, lines 206 and 232 forconnection to the flashers 202 and 230, respectively, lines 210, 214,218' and 222' for connection to the lamps 212, 216, 220 and 222,respectively, and line 226 for connection to the brake switch 228. Thedevice also has five movable ball contacts 72, 80, 114, 154 and 156, twoof which (ball contacts 72, 80) are movable by the actuator 18 forsignalling lane changing turns and together with ball contact 114 aremovable for indicating normal turns. The movement of the contact 114prevents closing of the brake switch 228 from interfering with theflashing of the rear turn signal lamp.

The other two ball contacts 154, 156 are movable by the emergencyflasher control member 30, the ball contact 156 being effective in theoff position of the member 30 to complete a circuit through the standardflasher 202 and being effective in the on position of the member 30 tocomplete a circuit through the emergency flasher 230 to the front lamps212, 216. The other ball contact 150 is inoperative in the off positionof member 30 and, in the on position, it completes a circuit through theemergency flasher 230 to the rear lamps 220 and 224. It will be notedthat in this embodiment the contacts 50 and 76 each have four contactfunctioning portions.

Referring to FIG. 3, illustrating contact 50, there is a first portion240 disposed outwardly of the detent 52 and engaged by the ball contact72 in signalling a line changing turn, a second portion 242 inwardly ofthe detent 52 and engaged by the ball contact 72 in signalling a normalturn, a third portion 244 on the outer side of loop 60 engaged by theball contact 154 during operation of the emergency flasher 230, and afourth portion 246 at the inner side of the loop 60 engaged by the brakeball contact 114 except when the actuator 18 is positioned forsignalling a normal turn to the right. A similar situation occurs forthe opposite contact 76. Thus, one contact element is utilized forseveral and varied purposes, i.e., to establish certain precedences ofthe various modes of operation of the switch. Thus, inter alia emergencyfour-way flash will take precedence over turn signal or lane changingmodes, brake takes precedence over emergency flash and turn signal takesprecedence over brake.

There is also contemplated a modified form of the switch assembly andcircuit described in FIGS. 1 to 7, the modified form being illustratedin FIGS. 8 and 9. As will be noted from the following description, FIG.9 also illustrates a sequencer circuit which represents a preferred formof the sequencer concept. As will be seen from the description of FIGS.8 and 9, the modified form permits the elimination of seven of the stripcontacts and two of the ball contacts utilized in the system of thedescribed FIGS. 1 to 7 through the use of dual flasher units and diodeassembly generally indicated at 248. In this modified embodiment, withthe exception noted, the construction and elements of the turn signaland emergency switch assembly are the same as those described in thefirst embodiment and are identified by the same reference characterswith a prime added. It will be noted that the second embodiment omitsthe strip contacts 64, 74, 134, 136, 142, 144 and 108 and ball contacts114 and 156. Also, the corresponding terminal posts of these stripcontacts and the recess 68 and the aperture 152 are eliminated.

As in the first embodiment, the actuator element 18 is adapted to moveball contacts 72' and in an armate fashion within the slot 32'. For aleft hand turn, the ball 72 is moved into the area between contactstrips 36' and 50' and thence past the detent portions to energizecontact 50 from the electrical energy being fed to the strip 36. Thereturn mechanism described above will then cancel the signal being fedto the left turn lamps and return ball 72' to its original neutralposition. For an opposite turn, the opposite condition exists with ballcontact 80. Thus, the turning and lane changing signals are presented tothe circuitry 248 which will provide a pulsed output to the lamps aswill be described hereinafter.

In the emergency four-way flash operation, the fourway flash actuatordescribed above is pushed inwardly to move ball contact 154' from theposition shown in FIG. 8 to a position in contact with strip contacts50, As will be seen from the description of FIG. 9, a

heavy duty flasher is connected to the U-shaped strip' 126 therebyproviding electrical energy from the strip 126' to the vehicle lampsthrough ball contact 154 and strips 50', 76'. It will be noted that theemergency fourway flash mode of operation will precede or takeprecedence over the turn signal mode of operation.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the turn signal switch assembly described inconjunction with FIG. 8 is illustrated in circuit with the battery andthe vehicle lamps. Particularly, the terminal posts 48' and 84' of thestrip contact 36' and 74' are interconnected by a conductor 250 to thevehicle battery and the emergency strip contact 126' is connected to thebattery source through terminal 133, a conductor 152 and the heavy dutyflasher circuit 230'. In this way, the energy from the battery and theemergency flash mode of operation is fed through the contact 126 and theball contact 154' (shown in the dotted position) to the strip contacts50 and 76'.

In the right turn mode of operation, the ball contact 80' is moved intocontact with both the strip contact 74', 76 to energize an outputconductor 254. On the other hand, for a left turn, the ball contact 72'is moved into contact with the strip contacts 48 and 50 to energize anoutput conductor 256. It will be noted that the energy being supplied toconductors 254, 256 solely as a result of the positioning of ballcontact 72' and 80' will provide constant energization to the lines 254or Referring first to the left turn signal, the conductor 256 isenergized to supply energy to a flasher unit 260 which is connected inseries with a left front lamp 262, a left pilot lamp 264 and a left rearlamp 266. Accordingly, upon initial energization of the line 256, energywill flow through the flasher unit 260, including a movable contact 268and a stationary contact 270, to the parallel connected lamps 262, 264,266. The arm 272, supporting the movable contact 268, is a thermallyresponsive element, such as a bimetal, which may be either self-heatedby current flowing through the bimetal or may be provided with aseparate heater to cause the bimetal to curl upwardly in response tocurrent flowing across the closed contacts 268, 270. After apredetermined time lapse, the contacts 268, 270 will separate to openthe circuit between conductors 256 and lamps 262, 264, 266. Current willthen flow from the conductor 256, through a diode 274, to energize alamp 276. However, insufficient current will then flow through lamps262, 264, 266 to maintain the illumination of these latter lamps. Thus,upon actuation of the turn signal switch, lamp 266 will first beenergized and then will be extinguished and lamp 276 will be energized.These latter two lamps will then sequence back and forth during theperiod that the left turn signal is signaled by the switch.

On the other hand, when a right turn signal is required, current willflow through a set of normally closed contacts 280, 282 to thecorresponding parallel connected right lamps 284, 286 and 288. Uponheating of the bimetal arm 290, the contacts 280, 282 will open andcurrent will flow through a diode 294 to an inboard lamp 296 to energizethe inboard lamp 296 and deenergize the lamps 284, 286, 288.

A brake signal is provided from the battery source at input terminal 298through a normally open brake switch 300. Upon closure of the brakeswitch 300, and assuming that neither turn signal switch is closed,current will flow through a diode 302 to the lamp 276, thus illuminatingthe lamp 276. On the other hand, current will also flow through a diode304 to the illuminate lamp 296. it will be noted that the lamps 262, 264and 266 and 284, 286 and 288 will not be illuminated in the brake modeof operation. It will be further noted that the closure of the turnsignal switch after the closure of the brake switch 300 will cause lamp276 to be extinguished due to the fact that the full battery voltage isapplied to both ends of the lamp 276. However, the opposite side, in thecase of a left turn, will be illuminated in the normal brake mode ofoperation.

In the emergency flash mode, the ball contact 154' bridges the gapbetween contact 126 and contacts 50, 76' to supply pulsed energy to theconductors 254, 256. In order to eliminate the effect of the flashers260, 281 the duty cycle of the heavy duty flasher 230' is designed to beless than the duty cycles of flashers 260, 281. In this way the on timeof the pulse from flasher 230' is insufficient to provide enough energyto open contacts 268, 270 and 280, 282.

While it'will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects abovestated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

Iclaim: r

1. An automobile directional signal apparatus for use on an automobilehaving a right front light, a right rear light, a left front light, aleft rear light, a source of electrical energy and a brake pedal switchconnected to said source of electrical energy, said apparatus comprisingat least one flasher adapted to be connected to said source ofelectrical energy, a right turn signal front light contact having afirst portion and a second portion, an emergency right front lightcontact connected to said right turn signal front light contact, a rightrear light contact having a first portion, a second portion, a thirdportion and a fourth portion, a right turn signal battery contact havinga first portion and a second por tion, a left turn signal front lightcontact having a first portion and a second portion, an emergency leftfront light contact connected to said left turn signal front lightcontact, a left rear light contact having a first portion, a secondportion, a third portion and a fourth portion, a left turn signalbattery contact having a first portion and a second portion, a brakeswitch battery contact having a first portion, a second portion and athird portion, a pair of flasher contacts, means connecting one of saidflasher contacts to said right turn signal battery contact and to saidleft turn signal battery contact, a right turn ball contact, a left turnball contact, a brake switch ball contact, an emergency flasher batterycontact having a first portion and a second portion, an actuator havingan inoperative position in which said brake switch ball contactinterconnects said first portion of said brake switch battery contactand said third portions of rear light contacts and movable between aright lane change position in which said right turn ball contact ispositioned to interconnect said right turn signal battery contact andsaid first portions of said right front light contact and said rightrear light contact, a normal right turn position in which said rightturn ball contact interconnects said right turn signal battery contactand said second portions of said right front light contact and saidright :rear light, a left lane change position in which said left turnball contact interconnects said left turn signal battery contact andsaid first portions of said left front light contact and said left rearlight contact and a normal left turn position in which said left turnball contact interconnects said left turn signal battery contact andsaid second portions of said left front light contact and said left rearlight contact, a first emergency ball contact, a second emergency ballcontact, an emergency flasher control member movable between an offposition in which said first emergency ball contact interconnects saidpair of flasher contacts and an on position in which said firstemergency ball contact interconnects said first portion of saidemergency flasher battery contact and said emergency front lightcontacts and said second emer gency ball contact interconnects saidsecond portion of said emergency flasher battery contact and said fourthportions of said rear light contacts, means for urging said actuator tosaid inoperative position, detent means for yieldably holding saidactuator in said normal turn position and cancelling means for returningsaid actuator from said normal turn positions in response to completionof a turn of said automobile.

2. In a vehicle signalling system for indicating a turn in either of twodirections and for indicating an emergency condition and including asource of electrical energy, at least first, second, third and fourthindicating means and flasher switch means connected between the sourceof electrical energy and the indicating means, the improvementcomprising first and second switch means normally open and alternativelyoperable manually to closed positions, third switch means movablebetween a first position in circuit with said first and second switchand a second position, and turn signal circuit means for connecting saidfirst and second switch means between said source of electrical energyand said indicating means and through said third switch means when it isin said first position to energize said first and second indicatingmeans when said first switch means is in closed position and to energizesaid third and fourth indicating means when said second switch means isin closed position, said first and second switch means including a pairof spaced contacts, a first movable contact movable between a centerposition in which it engages one of said spaced contacts of said firstand second switches, a left position in which said movable contact isdisposed while said device is indicating a left turn and in which itengages only one of said spaced contacts of one of said first and secondswitch means and a right position in which said movable contact isdisposed while said device is indicating a right turn and in which itengages only the other of said spaced contacts of one of said first andsecond switch means.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said first switch means alsoincludes a second movable contact movable between an off position inwhich it engages neither of said pair of spaced contacts and an onposition in which it engages both of said pair of spaced contacts.

4. The improvement of claim 3 further including brake circuit means forconnecting said first switch means between said brake pedal switch andsaid first and third indicating means to energize said first and thirdindicating means when said first movable contact is in said centerposition and said second movable contactis in said off position, toenergize only said first indicating means when said first movablecontact is in said left position and said second movable contact is insaid off position and to energize only said third indicating means whensaid first movable contact is in said right position and said secondmovable contact is in said off position.

5. The improvement of claim 4 further including emergency flashercircuit means for connecting said source of electrical energy to all ofsaid indicatingmeans through said flasher switch means and includingcircuit means for connecting said source of electrical energy to saidfirst and third indicating means through said movable contact when it isin said on position.

6. Theimprovement of claim 2 further including a fourth switch movablebetween a first position in which it is disposed when said secondmovable contact is in said open position and a second position in whichit is disposed when said second movable contact is in said closedposition.

7. The improvement of claim 2 further including turn signal circuitmeans for providing a circuit from said turn signal flasher switch tosaid right front and rear lamps through said fourth switch when it is insaid first position and through said first switch when it is in closedposition and providing a circuit from said turn signal flasher switch tosaid left front and rear lamps through said fourth switch when it is insaid first position and through said second switch when it is in closedposition.

8. The improvement of claim 6 further including emergencyflasher'circuit means for connecting said emergency flasher switch toall of said lamps when said fourth switch is in said second position andsaid second movable contact of said thirdswitch is in said closedposition.

9. The improvement of claim 7 further including brake circuit means forconnecting said brake pedal switch to both of said rear lamps when saidfirst movable contact of said third switch is in said center position,for connecting said brake pedal switch to said left rear lamp when saidfirst movable contact is in said right position, and for connecting saidbrake pedal switch to said right rear lamp when said movable contact isin said left position.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said current responsive flashermeans includes a thermally responsive element, said thermally responsiveelement adopted to be heated by current flowing through said flashermeans.

1 1. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said flasher means includes anormally closed switch for shunting said second lamp.

12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein said heating causes said flasherswitch to open to drive current through said second lamp.

13. The improvement of claim 12 wherein sufficient current flows in saidlight group when said flasher switch is closed and insufficient currentflows in said light group when said flasher switch is open.

14. The improvement of claim 13 further including an emergency flashcircuit including a normally open emergency switch and an emergencyflasher, said flasher being connected in circuit with said lamp groupwhen said emergency switch is closed.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said lamp group, flasher meansand emergency flasher are connected in series circuit, said emergencyflasher means having a duty cycle which is less than the duty cycle ofsaid flasher means.

16. The improvement of claim 13 further including a normally open brakeswitch operable to the closed position upon application of the vehiclebrakes, said brake switch being connected in series with said lamp groupand said second lamp, the application of said brakes causing said secondlamp to be illuminated on said lamp group to at least appearnon-illuminated.

1. An automobile directional signal apparatus for use on an automobilehaving a right front light, a right rear light, a left front light, aleft rear light, a source of electrical energy and a brake pedal switchconnected to said source of electrical energy, said apparatus comprisingat least one flasher adapted to be connected to said source ofelectrical energy, a right turn signal froNt light contact having afirst portion and a second portion, an emergency right front lightcontact connected to said right turn signal front light contact, a rightrear light contact having a first portion, a second portion, a thirdportion and a fourth portion, a right turn signal battery contact havinga first portion and a second portion, a left turn signal front lightcontact having a first portion and a second portion, an emergency leftfront light contact connected to said left turn signal front lightcontact, a left rear light contact having a first portion, a secondportion, a third portion and a fourth portion, a left turn signalbattery contact having a first portion and a second portion, a brakeswitch battery contact having a first portion, a second portion and athird portion, a pair of flasher contacts, means connecting one of saidflasher contacts to said right turn signal battery contact and to saidleft turn signal battery contact, a right turn ball contact, a left turnball contact, a brake switch ball contact, an emergency flasher batterycontact having a first portion and a second portion, an actuator havingan inoperative position in which said brake switch ball contactinterconnects said first portion of said brake switch battery contactand said third portions of rear light contacts and movable between aright lane change position in which said right turn ball contact ispositioned to interconnect said right turn signal battery contact andsaid first portions of said right front light contact and said rightrear light contact, a normal right turn position in which said rightturn ball contact interconnects said right turn signal battery contactand said second portions of said right front light contact and saidright rear light, a left lane change position in which said left turnball contact interconnects said left turn signal battery contact andsaid first portions of said left front light contact and said left rearlight contact and a normal left turn position in which said left turnball contact interconnects said left turn signal battery contact andsaid second portions of said left front light contact and said left rearlight contact, a first emergency ball contact, a second emergency ballcontact, an emergency flasher control member movable between an offposition in which said first emergency ball contact interconnects saidpair of flasher contacts and an on position in which said firstemergency ball contact interconnects said first portion of saidemergency flasher battery contact and said emergency front lightcontacts and said second emergency ball contact interconnects saidsecond portion of said emergency flasher battery contact and said fourthportions of said rear light contacts, means for urging said actuator tosaid inoperative position, detent means for yieldably holding saidactuator in said normal turn position and cancelling means for returningsaid actuator from said normal turn positions in response to completionof a turn of said automobile.
 1. An automobile directional signalapparatus for use on an automobile having a right front light, a rightrear light, a left front light, a left rear light, a source ofelectrical energy and a brake pedal switch connected to said source ofelectrical energy, said apparatus comprising at least one flasheradapted to be connected to said source of electrical energy, a rightturn signal froNt light contact having a first portion and a secondportion, an emergency right front light contact connected to said rightturn signal front light contact, a right rear light contact having afirst portion, a second portion, a third portion and a fourth portion, aright turn signal battery contact having a first portion and a secondportion, a left turn signal front light contact having a first portionand a second portion, an emergency left front light contact connected tosaid left turn signal front light contact, a left rear light contacthaving a first portion, a second portion, a third portion and a fourthportion, a left turn signal battery contact having a first portion and asecond portion, a brake switch battery contact having a first portion, asecond portion and a third portion, a pair of flasher contacts, meansconnecting one of said flasher contacts to said right turn signalbattery contact and to said left turn signal battery contact, a rightturn ball contact, a left turn ball contact, a brake switch ballcontact, an emergency flasher battery contact having a first portion anda second portion, an actuator having an inoperative position in whichsaid brake switch ball contact interconnects said first portion of saidbrake switch battery contact and said third portions of rear lightcontacts and movable between a right lane change position in which saidright turn ball contact is positioned to interconnect said right turnsignal battery contact and said first portions of said right front lightcontact and said right rear light contact, a normal right turn positionin which said right turn ball contact interconnects said right turnsignal battery contact and said second portions of said right frontlight contact and said right rear light, a left lane change position inwhich said left turn ball contact interconnects said left turn signalbattery contact and said first portions of said left front light contactand said left rear light contact and a normal left turn position inwhich said left turn ball contact interconnects said left turn signalbattery contact and said second portions of said left front lightcontact and said left rear light contact, a first emergency ballcontact, a second emergency ball contact, an emergency flasher controlmember movable between an off position in which said first emergencyball contact interconnects said pair of flasher contacts and an onposition in which said first emergency ball contact interconnects saidfirst portion of said emergency flasher battery contact and saidemergency front light contacts and said second emergency ball contactinterconnects said second portion of said emergency flasher batterycontact and said fourth portions of said rear light contacts, means forurging said actuator to said inoperative position, detent means foryieldably holding said actuator in said normal turn position andcancelling means for returning said actuator from said normal turnpositions in response to completion of a turn of said automobile.
 2. Ina vehicle signalling system for indicating a turn in either of twodirections and for indicating an emergency condition and including asource of electrical energy, at least first, second, third and fourthindicating means and flasher switch means connected between the sourceof electrical energy and the indicating means, the improvementcomprising first and second switch means normally open and alternativelyoperable manually to closed positions, third switch means movablebetween a first position in circuit with said first and second switchand a second position, and turn signal circuit means for connecting saidfirst and second switch means between said source of electrical energyand said indicating means and through said third switch means when it isin said first position to energize said first and second indicatingmeans when said first switch means is in closed position and to energizesaid third and fourth indicating means when said second switch means isin closed positIon, said first and second switch means including a pairof spaced contacts, a first movable contact movable between a centerposition in which it engages one of said spaced contacts of said firstand second switches, a left position in which said movable contact isdisposed while said device is indicating a left turn and in which itengages only one of said spaced contacts of one of said first and secondswitch means and a right position in which said movable contact isdisposed while said device is indicating a right turn and in which itengages only the other of said spaced contacts of one of said first andsecond switch means.
 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said firstswitch means also includes a second movable contact movable between anoff position in which it engages neither of said pair of spaced contactsand an on position in which it engages both of said pair of spacedcontacts.
 4. The improvement of claim 3 further including brake circuitmeans for connecting said first switch means between said brake pedalswitch and said first and third indicating means to energize said firstand third indicating means when said first movable contact is in saidcenter position and said second movable contact is in said off position,to energize only said first indicating means when said first movablecontact is in said left position and said second movable contact is insaid off position and to energize only said third indicating means whensaid first movable contact is in said right position and said secondmovable contact is in said off position.
 5. The improvement of claim 4further including emergency flasher circuit means for connecting saidsource of electrical energy to all of said indicating means through saidflasher switch means and including circuit means for connecting saidsource of electrical energy to said first and third indicating meansthrough said movable contact when it is in said on position.
 6. Theimprovement of claim 2 further including a fourth switch movable betweena first position in which it is disposed when said second movablecontact is in said open position and a second position in which it isdisposed when said second movable contact is in said closed position. 7.The improvement of claim 2 further including turn signal circuit meansfor providing a circuit from said turn signal flasher switch to saidright front and rear lamps through said fourth switch when it is in saidfirst position and through said first switch when it is in closedposition and providing a circuit from said turn signal flasher switch tosaid left front and rear lamps through said fourth switch when it is insaid first position and through said second switch when it is in closedposition.
 8. The improvement of claim 6 further including emergencyflasher circuit means for connecting said emergency flasher switch toall of said lamps when said fourth switch is in said second position andsaid second movable contact of said third switch is in said closedposition.
 9. The improvement of claim 7 further including brake circuitmeans for connecting said brake pedal switch to both of said rear lampswhen said first movable contact of said third switch is in said centerposition, for connecting said brake pedal switch to said left rear lampwhen said first movable contact is in said right position, and forconnecting said brake pedal switch to said right rear lamp when saidmovable contact is in said left position.
 10. The improvement of claim 9wherein said current responsive flasher means includes a thermallyresponsive element, said thermally responsive element adopted to beheated by current flowing through said flasher means.
 11. Theimprovement of claim 9 wherein said flasher means includes a normallyclosed switch for shunting said second lamp.
 12. The improvement ofclaim 11 wherein said heating causes said flasher switch to open todrive current through said second lamp.
 13. The improvement of claim 12wherein sufficient current flows in said light group when said flasherswitch is closed and insufficient current flows in said light group whensaid flasher switch is open.
 14. The improvement of claim 13 furtherincluding an emergency flash circuit including a normally open emergencyswitch and an emergency flasher, said flasher being connected in circuitwith said lamp group when said emergency switch is closed.
 15. Theimprovement of claim 14 wherein said lamp group, flasher means andemergency flasher are connected in series circuit, said emergencyflasher means having a duty cycle which is less than the duty cycle ofsaid flasher means.